How to Change a Bulb Safely?

How to Change a Bulb Safely?

Contents

 – Step 1: Basic safety rules

 – Step 2: Changing the bulb

 – Step 3: Choosing the correct wattage

Changing a light bulb is probably the most frequent occasion you will have to handle electricity.

It is not very complicated, but it does require that you follow certain safety measures.

Note: It is also essential to ask yourself the question, “why did the bulb burn out? If it is due to age or an intrinsic defect in the bulb, nothing serious. If, on the other hand, it is due to a short circuit, you must identify the cause.

1. Basic safety rules

How to Change a Bulb Safely?

Very often, a simple gesture, in the mind of the consumer, is a gesture without risk. However, changing a bulb can be dangerous if no precautions are taken.

 – The first thing is to have dry hands because you will be working on an electrical network.

 Even to change a light bulb, it is better to cut the power supply to isolate the socket.- The second precaution is to cut off the current in the network concerned. This way, you can do the work safely.

2. Changing the bulb

How to Change a Bulb Safely?

To change the bulb:

 – If the bulb is intact: use a work glove to remove it by turning it. If the bulb you are about to change has been on for an hour or more, it should be warm. The work glove will protect you from the heat.

 – If the bulb is broken in the socket: with fine-nosed pliers, pinch the socket and unscrew the bulb’s base. The use of gloves is even more essential in this case.

 – Remember to work on a stable platform, with the chair’s four legs placed correctly on the floor. Avoid working in extension, i.e., standing on the tiptoes of your feet resting feverishly on the top step of the stepladder!

3. Choice of power

Apart from the purely technical aspect, it may be helpful to ask yourself the question of the bulb’s power: is it sufficient, or on the contrary, too powerful?

For the choice of your bulbs, know that the rule is to devote :

 – 15 to 20 W/m² for living rooms;

 – 10 to 15 W/m² for secondary rooms (hallways, garage, cellar) and bedrooms.

You can divide the sum by 5 if you use a low-energy bulb.

Necessary: be careful never to replace your bulb with a higher wattage bulb.

Light bulb prices

Lighting: there are significant differences in the price of bulbs depending on the technology…

According to the different technologies and their evolution, you can choose between an incandescent bulb, a low-energy bulb, a halogen bulb, an LED bulb, or a neon bulb.

Selecting a bulb means choosing it according to :

 – the use,

 – the room concerned,

 – the demand,

 – the lighting system that will receive it,

 – the desired characteristics,

 – but also its price.

And then, concerning the performances put forward by the manufacturer, in terms of efficiency, consumption, and lifespan, a reasonable consumer will evaluate if his budget seems to be consistent with the price of the bulb.

Here is a comparative table to help you in this evaluation:

Type

Classic (230V)

Halogen (230V)

Halogen (12V)

Neon (230V)

Fluo (230V)

LED (230/120V)

Lifetime in years*

1

2

4

10

7

60

The +

Price.

Quality of light

Quality of light

Eco

Lifetime

Lifetime

The –

Energy consuming Energy consuming Energy consuming Cold light, contains mercury Waits for maximum light Its price
Power in W 40 300 650 1000 50 75 100 9 25 7 15 Diode LED 3W

7

Price in $

1

9

9

12

5

12

9

3

18

4

17

12

16

75

 

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